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We are at a pivotal time – we can get stuck in the doom and the gloom or we can learn to work together better and start to open up the cracks of possibility ….

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It is becoming more and more obvious that the key to opening up the cracks of possibility is in holding the right types of conversation, between the right people and about the right things.

We know so much about what doesn’t work.  Expecting politicians to sort it all out for us doesn’t work.  Carrying on business as usual and waiting for it all to go away doesn’t work.  5 year strategic plans with goals, targets, performance measures etc etc etc don’t work. (Apologies to anyone spending great amounts of time and energy on these kinds of strategic plans, but the sooner someone tells you the better ! …)

And we have a sense of what might just work better:

–  Communities and workplaces where it is understood that different aspects of expertise lie with everyone; no-one has all the answers, but the way in which we come together will have a critical impact on what it is we are able to do.

–  Communities and workplaces that can move beyond the limitations of hierarchy; hierarchy is deeply embedded in our standard way of operating – we are learning all about it from our earliest childhood, throughout our education system and in the vast majority of our workplaces, but we can do better.

–  Communities and workplaces that find a balance between action and deep reflection; that take the time to consider what matters most and how they can make the most of all the diverse assets available to them.

We are at a pivotal time – we can carry on as we are, maybe try harder, try and be a bit more efficient – or we can re-think and start working on improving our operating system – the way we come together, the way we value diversity, the way we hold conversations that truly matter and make a difference.

Over the last few years, I (and others) have been piloting particularly Cafe work and Open Space Technology in Ireland, as ways of enabling diverse people to engage in conversations that matter, to appreciate diverse perspectives and to move to more informed and creative actions.  Now is the time to start taking this work to a different level.

My intention is to move to more of a campaigning mode.  It shouldn’t be acceptable anymore to hold meetings and conferences that act as though all the expertise is on the stage at the front of the room; nor should it be acceptable to talk and talk without a clear link to the possibility of action.  We can be compassionate that many people know no better and have no experience of better things; we have to help lots more people get access to such experience.

From this summer onwards, I intend to question event organisers as to why they are not valuing the expertise of the people who attend their events.  I also intend to make training opportunities in these methodologies much more widely available across the regions of Ireland, so that we get loads more people doing this work and developing and deepening our practice together.

More details will be posted here soon – but if you’re interested in helping change our operating systems do get in touch !